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prepense

prepense

9.9
Planned in advance, often to do something illegal
  • adjective
  • /prɪˈpɛns/
  • Archaic
translation icon : premeditado
  • The judge determined that the act was prepense and not a result of sudden anger.

Examples

  • He acted with prepense malice during the robbery.

  • In older legal texts, crimes described as prepense were punished more severely.

  • He denied any prepense intention to deceive his business partners.

  • Was the plan executed with prepense consideration?

  • The judge determined that the act was prepense and not a result of sudden anger.

  • In older legal texts, crimes described as prepense were punished more severely.

  • He acted with prepense malice during the robbery.

Synonyms

planned
vsprepense
26 1.0

Arranged before it happens on purpose

is specific to actions thought out beforehand often implying criminal intent
premeditated
vsprepense
  • Formal
22 7.2

Done on purpose after planning it

is used especially for actions or crimes thought out beforehand
aforethought
vsprepense
  • Formal
1 9.9

Planned in advance and not done suddenly

is the general adjective for prior thought applied to actions and crimes
preplanned
vsprepense
1 3.3

Arranged before something happens

is about prior thought and intent often with criminal relevance
prearranged
vsprepense
3.4

Planned before it happens

is the term for prior deliberate action with emphasis on wrongdoing
preconcerted
vsprepense
9.1

Arranged or agreed before someone carries it out

is used more for solitary prior intent rather than jointly agreed plans
predetermined
vsprepense
5.3

Decided before it happens

is centered on conscious prior intention for actions often tied to crimes

Antonyms

78 4.4

Acting suddenly without careful thought because of a strong feeling

Happening without being planned or thought about first

How Deliberate

prepense
  • Archaic
9.9
planned
26 1.0
unplanned
25 3.5
spontaneous
187 4.2

Surface Forms

prepense positive

Etymology

The word prepense comes from the parts pre- meaning 'before' and -pense meaning 'to think' or 'to weigh', the same root in pensive. So prepense means 'thought before' and is used for actions that are planned or done on purpose in advance.